1
as in preferably
by choice or preference
I would rather go to the movies than stay at home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in instead
as a substitute
don't think of the placement test as torture but rather as a chance to show off how much you know
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in pretty
to some degree or extent
I say, don't you think that's rather expensive for a hamburger?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rather
What William rather surprisingly revealed, though, is that his father—King Charles—hates soccer.
—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
3 July 2026
Culture has improved and become more adaptable because our employees know they’re not being replaced, but rather their roles are being enhanced and expanded.
—
Duane Tursi,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
International quality players like Morgan Gibbs-White, Murillo, Chris Wood and Neco Williams have helped fade the memory of men like Adama Diakhaby, Lica and Nicolau Dumitru, who, bluntly, impressed rather less.
—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
2 July 2026
The Offspring are dead set on making history — in a rather unusual way.
—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for rather
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
3 July 2026
Culture has improved and become more adaptable because our employees know they’re not being replaced, but rather their roles are being enhanced and expanded.
—
Duane Tursi,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
International quality players like Morgan Gibbs-White, Murillo, Chris Wood and Neco Williams have helped fade the memory of men like Adama Diakhaby, Lica and Nicolau Dumitru, who, bluntly, impressed rather less.
—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
2 July 2026
The Offspring are dead set on making history — in a rather unusual way.
—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for rather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rather
Adverb
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Move the person into a shaded, cool area, remove their outer clothing and work to cool them down as quickly as possible, preferably with cold water or an ice bath.
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If the Pacers could add a wing shot creator – preferably a scorer – who can play small forward, that would be a boon for the second unit.
Adverb
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There is no television, dishwasher, or microwave, placing the focus instead on the surrounding landscape, and shared daily rituals of cabin life.
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Swift and Kelce did not have bridesmaids or groomsmen, instead opting for Swift's brother Austin Swift as her man of honor and Jason Kelce as the groom's best man.
Adverb
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Not to be like, mean, but just speaking pretty objectively here.
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Some of those old sites may be updated with NDS’s signature flair, but the ones that don’t look as pretty remain the primary resource for Americans seeking government information or assistance online.
Adverb
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Then, the Clippers willingly expended their draft capital in hopes to open a championship window.
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According to the court, the user is not willingly sharing their location data to Google just by using its services, making for a similar situation as location information shared to, say, telecommunications companies.
Adverb
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By contrast, retirees enjoy a financial edge in such states as Minnesota, Utah and Colorado, where residents enjoy high retirement income and expenses that are relatively manageable.
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India is seen as a laggard in the global AI race, but having the world’s second-largest workforce and relatively low labor costs has led to a boom in companies collecting data to train robots.
Adverb
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Authorities confirmed soon after her disappearance that DNA tests showed that blood found on Nancy Guthrie's front porch came from her.
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Paterson could be a temporary replacement and will soon be back to his Monday-night gig at the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge.
Adverb
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He's played with some incredible guards and centers throughout his 10-year career, but none quite like Maxey, Edgecombe and Embiid.
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Princess Diana has long been the subject of exhibitions—but maybe never one quite like this.
Adverb
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Douglas said automatic gratuities also serve a practical purpose for larger parties, helping to ensure servers are fairly compensated for the additional coordination and service those tables require.
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Still, box office held fairly steady in the June heat, with total receipts of $36,698,946 down just 6% from the previous week and 7% from this time last season.
Cite this Entry
“Rather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rather. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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